Caregiver stress is no joke. Not only can it make you resentful or depressed, it can also cause serious health conditions. That’s why adding stress reduction and coping tips to your daily routine is so important. One effective stress reduction technique that’s perfect for caregivers is journaling. Writing in a journal is free, takes as much or as little time as you’ve got, and can be done anywhere. I will outline 6 ways journaling makes caregiving easier and reduces stress, but first let’s explore how to get the ball rolling.
To start journaling, all you need is a paper notebook or a notes file on your computer or mobile device. Keep it private so you won’t have to worry about anyone reading what you wrote. It’s a wonderful ritual if you’re able to journal for a set amount of time each day, but you don’t have to follow any rules to get the full benefits of journaling. Write for as long as you want as often as you’d like. The one thing many people recommend is to write continuously and use a “stream of consciousness” approach. That means writing down whatever thoughts come into your mind. It’s important to let it flow and not edit your thoughts or worry about grammar or spelling. You don’t even have to use full sentences – anything goes.
6 benefits of journaling for caregivers
1. Reduce caregiver stress
Writing about anger, sadness, resentment, and other painful emotions helps to release the intensity of these feelings. After getting these thoughts out, you’ll likely feel calmer and less stressed.
2. Improve your health
One study found that when people wrote about emotionally difficult events or feelings for just 20 minutes at a time over 3 or 4 days, their immune system functioning increased. The relief gained by writing also improved the body’s ability to withstand stress, infection, and disease. Additional benefits of journaling include decreased blood pressure, improved sleep, less need to visit the doctor, faster healing, greater mobility in people with arthritis, and more.
3. Find solutions to tough challenges
Journaling can also be used for problem-solving. Writing out your thoughts helps you connect dots and come up with solutions that you wouldn’t have otherwise thought of. Next time you’re up against a sticky caregiving challenge, try writing about what’s going on. It could help you think of a creative way to solve the problem.
4. Make caregiving easier
Journaling makes caregiving easier because writing things down helps you see patterns. That gives you the ability to spot things that could be improved, simplified, or eliminated to make life run more smoothly.
Maybe you’ll start to notice that mom gets upset every time you talk about leaving the house, but doesn’t make a fuss if you just leave. Or maybe you’ll find that your spouse is much more willing to bathe during the early afternoon than in the evening.
5. Resolve arguments with other people
Writing about fights or misunderstandings helps you keep from stewing over it in your mind. It might even help you see the other person’s point of view or figure out a way to resolve the conflict.
6. Get in touch with yourself
It’s easy to lose yourself to the pressures of caregiving and your older adult’s needs. Journaling helps you clarify your thoughts and feelings.
Taking a few minutes to write down your unedited thoughts and emotions will help you get in touch with your true self. At Amada Senior Care, many of our caregivers journal daily and have great professional satisfaction as we help our seniors in need. Feel free to reach out to me if you or a loved one may need some assistance at home with all aspects of personal care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation needs, etc. Amada Senior Care is here to help. Please call 615-933-7494.
Kevin B. Fehr, CSA, CDP, President & CEO, Certified Dementia Practitioner, Amada Senior Care Nashville – www.amadanashville.com
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